What I wore #1

After reading this post from Ellamasters blog, I decided to try my hand at drawing what I wear, since I'm not hugely confident in taking outfit pictures yet. I haven't really drawn for awhile, plus my hands were shaky (I'd forgotten to eat today, had food after I finished the drawing) and I couldn't find a single paintbrush in my house! I seem to have lost them all :( So instead of using watercolours like Ella, which I really wanted to, I used my pencils. However, guess what! They were all blunt, I couldn't find a single sharpener either :( I really need to get down to an art shop pronto so hopefully I'll have better drawings in the future!

I also need to work out how to use my scanner, since my camera is terrible! I tried editing it in photofiltre (a free photo editing program) to make it look better but meh. The camera made it blurry and the colours look better on paper. I also got rid of what I'd written and rewrote it since I know my handwriting sucks, but I didn't know how bad till I saw it on my screen!

The next one will be better! I swear! Oh well I'm off to a fancy dress make your own superhero costume birthday party! Maybe that should be my next outfit post :P

Another to do list

I always seem to make lists, and then forget about them, and then make more. I love making lists, but wish I crossed more off them. So I'm going to quickly make myself a new list, and see how much I can cross off before the deadline I set myself.

These are things I've been meaning to do for awhile, and I intend to cross them off by next week, so Wednesday the 5th of October.

• Finish my CV and make sure I get references.
• Tidy my room, it is a pigsty and I have too much stuff for my little room!
• Draw what I wear every day like Ellamasters for at least one week.
• Start the 30 day shred again.
• Cross off one thing from my day zero list.

Just five things, I could add loads more, but then nothing would ever get done!

Meet Darcy

When I woke up this morning, it was sunny and warm, I was quite shocked! It's been pretty dismal weather down here for awhile, and I was going to get all my winter clothes out soon. I'm glad I didn't now.  Apparently it's going to be nice all this week, but I didn't believe it till I saw the sun shining! The sun makes me happy, it just makes everything pretty, and it makes the sea sparkle and I can tell loads of people will be going to the beach and down mumbles today. 

Unfortunately, I can't. I had a driving lesson (it went well!) and got dropped off at home from my boyfriends (I spend more time there than I do here!) so I couldn't go down the beach unless I get a bus back. Meh. Anyways when I got home I found a package waiting for me! The kitten I'd ordered from Being Little has arrived! I've always wanted one of her kitten dolls, they're so cute, so I jumped at the chance to buy one.

I decided to name her Darcy, since I really like that for a girls name, and it suits her I reckon! I always name my teddies or random toys. Yes I have toys, you can blame the One Object 365 Days Project for that! I've half done two projects on that, which I really should finish one day! Anyway back to hand! Darcy's posing in my boot since I love them! They're from Primark and are pretty good quality, I love the colour, the laces and the pattern on the side. I've worn them every day since I got them.

A close up of Darcy. I really like the simple white pattern, and the ribbon is cute. I'd love to make cat dolls or rabbit dolls or normal dolls myself, but when I did try it ended a disaster! But I really will try to make some before Christmas since that gives me a few months to practice. I feel guilty that I've not used my sewing machine for over half a year >.<

A close up of the business card that was tucked into Darcy's ribbon, cats are so cute, and this is an adorable illustration. If you can't tell, I really like cats! I miss my old cat, so I sometimes steal my neighbours cat. Well not really, she likes to come into our house and scare the crap out of you when you think you're alone! But then she gives you cwtches afterwards, so I don't mind.

As you can see from these photos, I should probably get a new camera soon. I can crop out the black line most of the times, but half the photos can be smudged so that's hard to crop around. I always seem to break camera's all the time, but I have no clue how this happened. It just did a few months ago and I've refused to buy a new one till it properly breaks, but I don't know how much longer I can last! Oh well, I'm off to have a sandwich and go read outside in the sun, I'm on the third of the series, Brisinger by Christoper Paolini now.

My Sleepy Saturday

I know Sundays are usually the sleepy days, but I'm working tomorrow and actually had today off! It was a nice quiet day spent at home after braving the rain to leave my boyfriends (he was busy, so I couldn't stay there all day, boo). Since it was freezing and I was soaking wet when I got home, I decided to wear my new purchase, this.

Yup! That is a monkey onesie from Primark. It's from the mens department since they always seem to have nicer ones that the girls, and its a monkey!! It is so comfy, I don't think I ever want to take it off, perfect for winter and lazing about the house. I've always wanted one but left it too late last time, but not this time huzzah! I then settled down in the living room with a few essentials...

...like tea! Since it was cold, I decided to drink lots of tea today using my pretty polka dot teapot to keep topping up my mug. I think I'll start collecting teapots in the future, they're so lovely, I have this one, and a yellow one.  I've only stopped myself from buying more since I have no room in my mum's kitchen. Mmmm tea, I like it strong with a bit of milk and a lot of sugar, not very healthy I know, but it tastes so wonderful.

 And last but not least, I cwtched in to read Eldest by Christopher Paolini. I read the first one a few weeks ago, and a friend lent me the second and third book which I am now devouring. I started reading this morning and hopefully will finish tonight. I used to be a bookworm, and stopped reading a lot when I went to uni (same with watching TV) and I'm getting back into the habit, so I love it when I have no plans and can just read.

And that was how I spent my day, it was so peaceful and relaxing, and I'll carry on reading tonight, but need to wake up for work early tomorrow, but at least I'm only in for four and a half hours ^_^

What I wore-sorta

The first picture of myself, a sort of what I wore post, I'm a bit nervous about it. The picture quality's not great since it's night time, and the flash was annoying me, but it has a certain retro feel to it so I like it. Not a full outfit picture since I had no one to take one for me, and no where to set up my timer so a shot in the hallway it was!

I went to Costa tonight for a chat with some friends and hot chocolate, and decided to wear one of my lucky dip Little Fille headbands I bought. I went for a grey, brown and black theme, (even though my mum says they should never be worn together!) and wore my grey velvet headband. I wore it with a primark t-shirt and cardigan, and a grey skirt from H&M with a brown belt, black leggings and brown brogues. I didn't really like the picture for that so didn't add it. 

Squirrelly

Hey Squirrel! 

Who me?

Yeah you!

What's up?

I think you're pretty darned cute

You think I'm cute? Thanks!

What I've been watching

I've watched the 2008 adaption of Persuasion, and the 2005 adaption of Price and Prejudice today, a lovely way to spend the day I think cuddled up in bed watching these gorgeous guys on my telly. I love Jane Austen adaptions of films, I've read some of the books, but watched the recent films of her work so much I can't remember the book versions so well.

I think I love how the men are gentlemen and women are ladies. I'd love to live in that time period, if I were well off though :P Oh and the dresses! Love the dresses, not the bonnets the had to wear though. Although when watching Lost in Austen, I can see the difficulties in living in that time after being a 21st century girl!

Of course in these adaptions, the men are all brooding and mysterious and eventually change, all for the girl they've fallen for of course. Well not all, but in these two examples they are. I love how he looks at her here, it's so sweet.

Anne's character does annoy me sometimes, but I love this all the same. I'm glad she got more of a backbone in the end, and the guy too! I think I love it because it's so... sad? You can really see her pain and feel it and she hopes very carefully all the way through, despite thinking it's over.

Then we have Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Darcy. I saw this version before the Colin Firth one, and I love both, but this one's easier to put on and watch all the story quickly. I've lost count of how many times I've watched it. It was my first foray into the Jane Austen world.

I love this scene, how he stumbles over saying he loves her, most ardently! And then they have an argument, and when he apologises its so heartbreaking the way he looks at her.

I wished they'd kissed in this, but then again I'm glad they didn't, it's sweet, touching and gentle. I know there's an alternative ending where they kiss but it's not the same. 

Sadly I know have to go to work, but I'd rather make my way through my small Jane Austen collection instead!

Little Fille Headband Giveaway!

Have you heard of Little Fille? They make extremely cute little headbands which I want, want, want! I've recently started wearing headbands and a girl can never have too many right? Well, you might just be in luck, seeing as they are having an amazing competition! It ends tomorrow though, I always blog about competitions late, ooops. But here is what you can win so don't judge me too harshly.

Photo taken from Little Filles post

Look how gorgeous they are, and not just the headbands, but the turbans and peter pan collars too. Oh I love peter pan collars, I would seriously wear those with every non peter pan collared top or dress I have!

I'd already commented on the post, and tweeted about it (but forgot to follow them >.< I have now, I think maybe I thought I was already following them before lol) and now I'm blogging about it in the hope for one more extra entry! They are so cute! I think my favourites are the polka dot ones, corral ones and the purple one at the bottom, or the flowery one, or the white one or all of them!

So quickly enter this competition! And if that's not good enough, Little Fille  are also having a bit of a lucky dip. Pay £10 and you get three surprise headbands. I'm excitedly waiting for them to arrive! My first and two more Little Fille headbands! I don't know which ones they'll be but I think I'll love them all since they are beautiful. Squee!

Making bracelets

A few friends I used to work with make their own bracelets, and they told me about this cute little shop that sold loads of beads. Eventually I went to go find it and it had moved, so I gave up trying to find it, I'm not good with finding places, when I happened to walk past it with my boyfriend the other day! Well more like two weeks ago, and I forgot where it was again, still not sure but I get my boyfriend to tell me where it is.

When I was bored the other day, I dragged him round with me to to find it again, and spent quite a while picking out beads. I only picked out enough to make one bracelet but have been back there once more to get a whole load more of beads!

I know it's not much, but that's the first one I made. I liked the colours and I love the big white ones, they are so sparkly and magical. I picked the heart since its cute, and the other silvery things are animals. They won't show up clearly on my camera, plus lighting's not great since its night, but I have a lion, an owl, a turtle and a duck, random yes, but they were the only ones they had. If I'd had gold there would have been a cat too though... it was tough making decisions :P

A jumble of bracelets!

After making it, I wanted to make more bracelets! Since it's fun and I want to get better at it, like judging the length, and how many beads I need and finishing the end bits etc. I decided to make some for my two of my  friends from America and I asked them for three of their favourite colours without telling them why. When I was in the shop, I saw these cute little teapots and decided to use them too, like a mad hatters tea pot type thing and to tie in the friendship bracelets.

This is the first one I made for my friend, it turned out softer than I thought it would be when she said black, pink and purple.

I had more trouble making this one since I used smaller beads. I'd counted out how many I thought I would need with one or two spare, but that still wasn't enough to cover a wrist nicely, it would be too tight. I'd bought two mixed bag of beads and had to sort through them finding similar colours which worked out quite well if you don't look too closely. It looks a lot nicer in person, this one is my favourite of the tea pot bracelets, when I thought the colours would never go together.

With the mixed bags of beads, I decided to make myself one! Again. I don't really have a favourite colour, they keep changing so I mixed them up without really thinking about the colours, just getting rid of all the odd colours and two of other colours etc. I like it, it reminds me of Howls Moving Castle, the film, if that makes sense.

Anyway, that's my little foray into jewellery making. I bought little bags to put their bracelets in and should be sending them off soon, I hope they like them, I had fun making the bracelets.

Birthday treats for the Brother

My older brother turned twenty four the other day, and I put a lot of effort into the presents and card I gave him this year. Normally me and my three brothers don't put that much of an effort into presents. We just ask if they want any films or books and get them. My older brother however would put more effort and money into the presents, since he could afford it in the past. 

When he came to visit, he usually does about once a week to get a home cooked meal, we'd asked him what he wanted, and he said he didn't know. When he left the room his girlfriend said she was going to get him a remote controlled helicopter. When he came back him, awhile afterwards said that's what he wanted. I had to say "no, i'm not getting you one" to him, and told him he wasn't responsible enough, since my brothers always break the flying presents they get usually in one day. After he'd gone home, my mum said he was a bit upset feeling like no one was bothering about him and I felt bad, he does get us really nice things.

I decided to get him things from his childhood since he's really like a big kid, it was more like he was turning four than twenty four. My boyfriend just turned twenty five a few months ago, and I went for a childish theme too, it's more fun! Anyway, apart from one grown up thing he did mention, a game of thrones book, I got him things he enjoyed when he was younger. 

• Mulan was his favourite disney film, I remember seeing it near his birthday in the cinema, Mulan rocks! But now I'll be singing "I'll make a maaaan, out of yoooooou!" for ages now. 
• I also got him bubbles, since bubbles are always fun! For my twenty first birthday I had a big fancy dress party for superheroes or villains, and the best dressed people won bubbles! People of all sorts of ages were there and all loved them!
• I got him "retro sweets", I used the quotes since they still sell them now, but it reminds me of those part bags you used to get at parties. 
• A mini wooden diablo! He used to have a giant red plastic one, but this was cute, but a bit harder, so I felt a bit bad about that lols.
• And then the book was a grown up thing but I got that first before the childhood theme.

I also made him a card, I've been making cards for people for awhile now. I started with generic ones for birthdays and christmas, but now I try to make them more personal. I'll have to upload some photos I have of them another time. Anyway this is the card I drew for him.

• Flags cause they remind me of birthdays and are cute! Love bunting flags! 
• A hat since you used to wear them at parties.
• My brother as a little kid and holding a helicopter since he made such a fuss about it.

I know its not much, but I'm working on being more creative and I do like to make an effort with presents and cards. I couldn't find any pencils to do this though, so drew it in inky pen, and then realised I had to colour in around it and that's why it's a bit... smudged, dirty or not coloured in properly. I also did it quickly before he arrived, my quick sketch before this was much better, but on paper and not coloured in, oh well.

Anywho, I hope to make cuter and better cards in future rather than buying them, it is one of my 101 things to do, and I'll post some of the old ones and new ones I make :)

End of Summer

I think we can truly say it's the end of Summer now. I know it's September, but I was hoping we'd still get the odd day here or there where it's sunny. That hasn't happened, and its been raining or cloudy, and always cold for awhile now. Of course I live in Wales, so it could be nice in other parts of Great Britain :P 

It was super sunny on the 1st of September though, that was my brothers birthday which was nice for him. I'll have to post pictures I took for the presents I got him and the card I made, but for now I'll post some photos I found from my holiday in Greece at the end of July. That was the sunny summer for me, since I didn't see much of it when I came back!

These were the only photos I took in Greece, since my friends had taken their camera's and mine has a black line down the side, we used theirs. It was early one morning, I think I was woken up by some guys shouting outside my room, which they often did. This was the view outside, so I grabbed the camera to take pictures of the sun rising, I think the colours are lush, and was glad I got to see this, despite lacking in sleep :)